THE LENGTH OF THE WOOL FIBER AND THE WOOL PRODUCTIVITY IN SHEEP OF THE SOVIET MERINO BREED IN THE APC OF LENIN COLLECTIVE FARM AND BREEDING PLANT IN THE ARZGIRSKY DISTRICT OF THE STAVROPOL TERRITORY

Abstract

One of the main breed characteristics in the fine-wool sheep is the wool length, which not only directly affects the level of wool productivity, but also ultimately determines the production purpose of the wool. The length of the wool depends on both heredity and the conditions of feeding and keeping. Depending on the conditions of keeping, the length of the wool can vary up to 40%. In the same animals, in good conditions it reaches 10,0 cm, and in poor conditions it reaches 6,0 cm. However, no matter how bad the conditions of keeping and feeding were, wool, also slowly, but still grows, while live weight may not change. This is one of the main protective properties of sheep from adverse external conditions.

The main selection technique for increasing the quantitative and qualitative indices of wool in fine-wool sheep breeding of the Stavropol Territory was the use of the Australian merinos and their descendants in herds. An analysis of the ewe lambs yearlings productive indices showed that the length of the wool fiber affects the wool clip, and a high correlative relationship was noted in different parts of the body (side, back, belly), which allows us to conclude that an increase in the length of the wool by 1,0 cm on the side, back and belly contributes to the growth of the clean wool clip, respectively, at 30, 70 and 100 g.